Enugu State is witnessing a political earthquake as the Labour Party (LP) continues to lose key figures, further depleting its once stronghold in the state, barely a few days after the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, dumped the party and returned to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The latest blow to the party came on Tuesday, when Hon. Gabriel Lebechi Eze, member representing Isi-Uzo State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, announced his resignation from the Labour Party and his defection to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Eze, a long-time ally of Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, followed his leader’s footsteps.
This move unleashed a wave of defections, signaling the unraveling of Labour Party’s influence across the state.
Eze’s defection comes after the party had already lost several members, shrinking their presence in the State House of Assembly from 5 to just 4 members.
The political fallout has been swift.
In the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party had won 14 seats in the Enugu State House of Assembly, but the party’s numbers have steadily dwindled.
DAILY GAZETTE recalls that two seats were lost through the courts, and six more legislators earlier defected to the ruling PDP.
Eze’s exit further compounds the party’s struggles, leaving many wondering if the Labour Party will be left with any representation in the Assembly at all.
In his statement, Eze criticized the internal divisions within the Labour Party, specifically the ongoing leadership struggles between Julius Abure and Nenadi Usman at the national level, and the factions in Enugu State led by figures such as Barr. Casmir Agbo.
Eze called the situation “irreconcilable,” explaining that the party was unable to present a united front, which prompted his decision to leave.
Furthermore, Eze expressed his admiration for Enugu’s Governor, Peter Mbah, praising his transformative efforts and promising his support to the PDP.
According to Eze, his defection would help further the cause of his constituency, suggesting that his alignment with the ruling party would bring more opportunities for development.
Political analysts view the defections as a major setback for the Labour Party in Enugu State, with the possibility of a complete collapse of its legislative presence looming large.
As the dust settles, the question is whether the party can recover from the mass exodus of its members.
For now, the Enugu political arena remains in flux, with the ruling PDP seemingly gaining ground at the expense of the Labour Party.
The coming days could be crucial in determining whether the Labour Party can salvage its position or if it will be relegated to the political sidelines in Enugu State.
